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Comment by Dirke on January 5, 2010 at 10:58pm

So here's the thing. I've been researching starting to make chocolates and confections as a business from home. There are loads of restrictions and permits and legal things to review. My question is..." Is there anyone out there that started from the home kitchen? What kind of things ie problems or words of caution can you offer. Or is it possible? I want to be legit but also not have a ton of over head. Any advice would be great? look forward to hearing from anyone...

Comment by xinhong liu on January 5, 2010 at 10:55am

Hi Guys,

Can you actually taste the difference between the cold-processed and widely used industry processed cacao beans?

http://www.thechocolatelife.com/video/the-truth-about-raw-cacao

Thanks,

Xinhong

Comment by xinhong liu on January 5, 2010 at 10:13am

Kathleen,

Thanks for your suggestions and your nice comments! It's very valueble to me!

In the new year I want to do few things including joining the event' London Fine Food Show'. Also I'm thinking to turn up in Shanghai food show in Nov time. There are lots to be do to prepare for events. I think I might have been too ambitious but I'd like to try. The thing is I have a full time and intensive job- software developer occupying my mind and time for the most of day and I'm hoping I can get out of it sooner. It's difficult to balance between work and my passion. I need this relative well paid job to pay for my 'hobby' but hopefully one day my hobby will turn up something that could support my living. It can not be a overnight magic as I understand but how long it's going to be? I give 3 years time. It could be longer than that what do you think?

Comment by Kathleen Vreeken on January 5, 2010 at 9:58am

Xinhong, The chocolates in your photo look very beautiful. The very first thing I've done to get started has been to find a commercial kitchen to work out of. I then started to find ways to "show" my creations, like shows, fundraisers, tastings etc. Next, I started "knocking on doors" to offer to create specialized candy for events. - I wish you much luck on your ventures.

Comment by xinhong liu on January 5, 2010 at 9:26am

With your inspiration I have decided to bring my business from 'underground' to 'above-ground'. As I'm a only new starter and sold very few boxes I guess there are lots I could learn from you. Please share your experience with others.

Xinhong

Comment by Annick Vliegen on January 5, 2010 at 9:04am

Congratz, from me in Belgium I hope it will go well, i'll keep my fingers crossed for you! Keep up the good work
Annick

Comment by Kathleen Vreeken on January 5, 2010 at 7:57am

Greetings to everyone. I am FINALLY taking the plunge and planning to take my "underground" candy business into the mainstream economy. Right now I'm hoping that the millions of details needed to get this venture "of the ground" will not take away the pleasure of working with the chocolate and will not turn it into drudgery. Whatever happens, I'm looking forward to getting to know you all.

Comment by Annick Vliegen on December 29, 2009 at 4:19am

Good luck Brad in the choses you will make along the way
Annick

Comment by Brad Reardon on December 28, 2009 at 5:22pm

Hello. Fellow new comer here. I have been playing with chocolate for years. Just now actually doing something useful with it. My chocolate escapades were enough that my girlfriend's family offered to buy what they hadn't finished at our Christmas party. I'd say it's a good start, but a start alone as I'm sure we all know, gets us nowhere.

I am looking at starting a confectionary with someone else doing the baking. I am currently planning for two lines of chocolates. One being the mass produced, here are all the cool machines and toys I can use. The other being all hand made.

I am still probably two years out from actually starting full scale, but for now I am a startup, that has too many hobbies to focus on running my own business. Also I am an odd duck that I don't care to actually make the chocolate. There are enough different varieties out there, that I chose to make something unique out of the chocolate, rather than trying to make a unique chocolate. That may change, but hey I'm 27 and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

Thanks in advance for the help I'm sure I will get from you, knowingly or otherwise. :)

Comment by Dirke on December 26, 2009 at 10:52pm

Thanks Karen & Annick. I have learned the hard way when I didn't follow my gut, thus the reason I am pursuing this new venture and getting out of the high tech world. The passion is there, the hours comes with the territory of running the show, even in the print (graphics) industry which I am currently in, it can be long hours. I really want to start small and hone my skills and find the exact direction that will work for me and a business. I guess in the beginning it looks daunting at what needs to be done, I will just have to figure it out as I go as you said. Fingers crossed....

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